Study On Two English Versions Of Biancheng From The Approach To Translation As Adaptation And Selection

Biancheng is a representative novella of Shen Congwen. Its pure artistic charmingattracts readers through the ages, which makes it glorious in Chinese literature. Sincepublication came out in1936, there have been four translated versions. However, onlythe latest two versions are active now. Although scholars have made enough researcherson the original text, thorough researches on its translation are rarely seen.Moreover, researches from the perspective of the Approach to translation asadaptation and selectionare even blank. It is necessary to make an in-depth researchabout this theory and translation of Biancheng, because this interdisciplinary theoryemphasizes on the interactive relationship between the translator and the translationaleco-environment, as well as provides a new explanation for the nature, process,standard and method of translation.A comparative study on the two English versions of Biancheng will be discussedfrom three aspects:(1) what selection has been made to the translator by the source text(as a typicallyimportant element of translational eco-environment), or what kind oftranslational eco-environments Gladys and Kinkley have adapted to?(2) What selectionhas been made to the translation by the translator (as a typically important element oftranslational eco-environment), or How Gladys and Kinkley make selection oftranslation?(3) As the result of adaptive selection, can the translated versions surviveaccording to the evaluation criteria of this theory?Through comparative analysis and applicative examples, it is concluded that thetwo translated versions are both the results of translators’ adaptation and selection intheir translational eco-environments，such as social environment, personal competenceand motivation, and text environment. In terms of multi-dimensional transformation,the words and style chosen by Gladys meet the needs of readers who lack backgroundknowledge. However, Kinkley mainly adopts the foreignization and notes, whichcaters to readers with some background knowledge and intension to know more.According to the criteria, Gladys’ version with higher holistic degree of adaptiveselection has some advantages over Kinkley’s version.